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KEELEB Il. L. DUNCAN.

GUIIIAIII FIXTURE.l (Applinim Abd Au. 0. 1001..)

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UNTED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT E. KEELER, OF NEW YORK, AND HARRY L. DUNCAN, OF BROOKLYN,

NEW` YORK; SAID DUNCAN ASSIGNOR TO SAID KEELER.

FIXTURE.

ePEcIrxcATIoN forming part of Letters :Patent No. 689,195, datedDecember 17, 1901.

Application filed August 9, 1901.

To all whom it muy concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT E. KEELER, a residentof the city and countyof New York, and HARRY L. DUNCAN, a resident of Brocklyn, county ofKings, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inCurtain-Fixtures and Processes of Making the Same, of which thefollowing is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which the same reference characters refer to similar partsin the several figures. l Y

This invention relates to curtain-fixtures which are adapted to beapplied to curtains more especially used in car-windows, so that suchcurtains may be readily raised .or lowered'and may be held securely inany desired position.

Figure 1 is a front side view of this fixture as applied to a curtain.Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the fixture. Fig. 3 is afront view of part of the fixture. Figs. A4 and 5 are `transversesectional views, on a larger scale, taken on the lines 4 4 and 5,5 ofFig. 2. Figs. 6 to 9 indicate the method of assembling this fixture.Figs. 10 to 14 show details on a larger scale.

The curtain A, of any suitableexible material, is formed with a fringeor bottom A2, so that it may be readily grasped for the purpose ofraising or lowering it. The pocket Y A', formed near the bottom of thecurtain,

serves to support the tube B, formed of iron or other suitable rigidmaterial. This tube should extend substantially the whole width of thecurtain. This tube is formed with an elongated tube-opening near thecenter of the' tube, extending along one side of the same. Thisltube-opening comprises an elongated tube-slot B2 and also a tube-notchB3, which when the fixture is assembled is in the center of theopeningA8 in the pocket of the curtain.

Upon thefront of the curtain-pocket is rigidly secured the escutchecn C,having, if` desired, sharp inwardly-projecting points at its corners tomore lirmly engage the curtain and formed of sheet metal-such as, forinstance, brass. l, It is formed with the `escutcheon-slot C', extendinglongitudinally of the tube, also with'the escutcheon-notch C2, whichregisters vside of this depressed portion.

Serial No. 71,433. (No model.)

with the tube-notch B5 directly below it, and also with thehandle-opening C3, as is shown in Fig. l0. The center block D is rigidlysecured in position, passing through the es cutcheon-notch and thetube-notch, by means of the screw D2, which engages the threaded holeB4, formed in the rear side of the tube. This screw serves to hold allof these parts in proper position, clamping the escutcheon and tubefirmly together and securing these parts to the curtain. It will benoted that the center block is formed with the outwardlyprojecting lugsD, which serve to engage the escutcheon, as is shown in Fig. 4, andvthis block is suitably perforated with the hole .D3

for the screw D?. y The center block may be plate I)5 extends over thehandle-opening in theV escutcheon, as is indicated in Fig. 12. Whenassembled,the depressed portion of the center block engages theescntcheon-notch and holds the escutcheon in proper position withrespect to the tube. If desired, the center block having a cover-platemay be formed to engage both the escutcheon-notch and the tube-notch tohold these parts more rigidly in position.

Within the Lube are the rods E, which in this curtain-fixture arepreferably rigidly and permanently secured to the handles E3, althoughthe rods may be connected to the handles in any desired way to make afirm connection between these parts while they are in operation. Theshoulders E', formed, if desired, on these handles, engage the innersurface of the tube and are guided thereby as they reciprocate along thetube. The handles adjacent the shoulders, as indicated by E2, engage thetube-slot B2 and are guided thereby as the handles reciprocate in thetube. It will be noted also byV reference to Fig. 5 that theescutcheon-slot C', and' also the opening in the curtain-pocket, areformed wider than The coveri ed on the tube, as is indicated.

the tube-slot at this point, so that the handles are free from theescutcheon and curtain and are guided by the tube-slot. thisconstruction it may be desirable in some cases to form the escutcheonslot so that it will be of the same width as the tube-slot, or evennarrower in some cases, so that the escutcheon -slot may act as theguidefor the handles in their reciprocation.

To each one of the rods E is secured a guiding member G, which engages asuitable vertical guide and serves in this way to guide the lower endofthe curtain in its movement, asis well known in this art. As is seenby reference to Fig. 2, the spindle F, attached to each guiding memberor foot, is formed with a threaded hole F', and the end of the rod at E4is threaded and engages the hole F. The foot therefore may be adjustedin position by this means relative to the rod on which it is mounted, sothat the distance between the feet of this fixture may be readily adjusted to properly engage the guide. Each foot is pressed outward by aspring E5, this spiral spring engaging thev inner end of thefootspindleF and also the internal collar B', form- The foot is composedof the cross-head, integral with the spindle F and carrying-at its outerextremities the pivots F3, upon which the rolls F2 are mounted. Thecasing G has rigidly secured to the same the pivot F4,which `is mountedin a suitable bearingin the cros`s-head, as indicated in Fig. l, so thatthe casing may turn about at this point. Rigidly secured to the casing Gis the frxiction'- shoe G', extending nearly the whole length of thefoot and bearing against the guide in which'the foot runs. The shoe endsG2, preferably turned outward slightly at their extreme outer portions,are also rigidly secured to the casing G and are adapted to bear againstthe guide.V As will be noted by reference to Fig. 2, the side plates ofthe casing G also bear on the guide, and in some cases it may bedesirable to omit the friction-shoe G', since a sufficient frictionalbearing would be obtained by the shoe ends and by the side plates of thecasing G, which engage the guides. In some cases the side plates may beformed so as not to engage the guide. The openings G between the shoeends and the friction-shoe G' are formed to allow the rolls F2 lto comein contact with the guide in case the fixture is tilted from its properhorizontalposition. In such a case as soon as the fixture has beendisplaced from proper horizontal position in the guides suiiiciently tobring the rolls in contact with the guides the very slight friction ofthese rolls against the guides at once allows the shade-roll to whichthe curtain is attached, as is Well known in this art, to raise thefixture on the side which is farther down, so as to at onceautomatically restore the fixture to its proper horizontal position. Assoon asfthis occurs the friction-shoes andshoe ends are restored tocontact with the guides, and the roller is no Instead of` esaie longersufficiently strong to move the fixture against the friction caused bythe springs E5. It will be noted that this form of self-righting foot isvery desirable, since the casing G serves to entirely cover the rollsand crosshead and also since the shoe ends, which may, if desired, beformed longer than is indicated in the drawings, serve to readily give along The curtain-pocket is formed in the lower end of the curtain andthe opening A3 cut in the center part of this pocket. A tube Bisinserted into the pocket, as is indicated in Fig. (i, so that the end ofthe tube-slot B2, which, as is shown, is considerably longer than the`opening A3 in the pocket, comes into alinement with the end oftheopeningin the pocket. The rod E is then inserted from the side of theopening A3 which is in alinement with the end of the tube-slot into thetube, as indicated, the rod displacing the flexible material of thepocket, as indicated in this figure, or since the rod is usually offlexible material the rod may bend sufficiently to allow the readyinsertion of the rod into the tube. The internal collars B on the tube Bare formed with a tapering inner surface, as is indicated, so that theend of the rod E is guided past these collars as the rod is inserted.-Then.

' when the shoulder E slips down into the opening A3 the tube is pushedintona central position, as shown in Fig. 7, and the shoulder is theninserted through the tube-notch Ba into its position within the tube.The tube is now pushed in the other direction, so that the opposite endsof the pocket-opening A and the tube-slot B2 come into alinement, thehandle being pressed to this end of the slot, as indicated in Fig. 8.The second rodE is now inserted, as indicated in that iigure, in amanner similar to the first rod, the shoulderE being slipped around thehandle Efirst inserted, so that the shoulder drops down into the openingA3 in the pocket. Thereupon the tube is restored to the central position(indicated in Fig. 9,) the shoulder E" being inserted into the tube-notch B3 to its central position Within the tube. The handles E3 arenow pressed together and the escutcheon put in position IOS) IID

IIS

by passing the handles through the handlefixture, the springs havingbeen previously inserted,and the feet are adj usted into properposition, so as to engage the guide-grooves to the desired extent. n

Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art andwithout departing from the spirit of this invention. We do not,therefore, wish to be limited by the disclosure which we have made inthis case; but what we wish to secu re by Letters Patent is set forth inthe appended claims.

1. In a curtain-fixture, acurtain having a pocket formed at itslowerportion, there being an openin g formed in the side of thecurtaincommunicating with said pocket, a tube having an elongatedtube-slot formed therein and a central tube-notch, rods having handlespermanently secured thereto to be inserted into said tube through saidtube-slot, an escutcheon formed with an escutcheonslot, with anescutcheon-notch and with a handle-opening, and a center block formedwitha cover-plate to cover said handle-opening and clamped ,in positionin engagement with said escutcheon-notch to secure said escutcheon inalinement with respect to said tube, and a shoe-spindle havinga-threaded connection with each ot' said rods to adjust the position ofsaid shoe upony said rod, springs to Vforce said spindles outward, aeasing pivotally connected to said spindle, a friction-shoe and shoeends secured to said casing to frictionally engage a guide, a crossheadformed on said shoe-spindle and rollers pivoted to the ends of saidcross-head to project between said friction-shoe and said shoe ends toform a self-righting foot.

2. In a curtain-xture, a curtain formed with a pocket in its lowerportion, there being an opening in said curtain communicating with saidpocket, a tube formed withan elongated tnbe-slot and with a tube-notch,

rods permanently secured to handles to be inserted into said tubethrough said curtainopening and said tube notch, shoulders formed onsaid handles to be guided bysaid tube-slot in reciprocatinglongitudinally of said tube, an escutcheon formed with an escutcheon-slot, au escutcheon notch andV a handle -opening and a center blockformed with a cover-plate to be clamped in position in saidescutcheon-notch by a screw engaging said tube, a friction-foot having ascrew connection with each of said rods to adjust the position of saidfoot, and springs to force said feet outward.

3. A curtain-fixture, a curtain formed with apocket extending across thelower end of the same, there being an opening communicating with saidpocket, a tube inserted in said pocket, there being a tube-notch and anelongated tube-slot formed in said tube, rods having handles permanentlysecured to the same to be inserted into said tube through said openingand said tube-notch, an escutcheon formed with an escutcheon-slot, anescutchecn-notch and a handle-opening, a center block engaging saidescutcheon-notch and said tube-notch and secured to said tube to clampsaid escutcheon in position, friction feet adjustably secured to 'saidrods and means to yeldingly press said friction-feet outward.

4. vIn a curtain-lixture, a curtain, a pocket formed across said curtainnear one end of the same, there being an opening formed in `serted intosaid tube through said tube-opening,guiding members secured to said rodsand means to press said rods outward.

center portion of said tube, rods having handles permanently secured tothe same and having shoulders formed on said handles to be inserted intosaid tube through said slot,

said shoulders entering said tube through said notch and being guidedwithin said tube in reciprocating longitudinally of the same, guidingmembers secured to said rods and means to force said rods outward.

8. In a curtain-fixture, a tube formed with an elongated tubeslot andwith a tube-notch near the center portion of the same, rods havinghandles permanently secured to the same to be inserted into said tubethrough said slot, an escutcheon formed with an escutcheon-slot, anescutcheon-notch, and with a handlefopening, a center blockA having acover-plate secured thereto engaging said escutcheon-notch and saidtube-notch to hold said escutcheon in position and guiding meinbersadjustably secured to said rods.

9. In a curtain-fixture, a shoe-spindle, a cross-head formed integralwith said spindle, rollers pivoted to the ends of'said cross-head, acasing pivotallyconnected to said crosshead, a friction-shoe and shoeends secured to said casing,l said rollers being mounted to projectbetween said friction-shoe and said shoe ends. l

10. In a curtain-fixture, a shoe-spindle, a cross-head secured to 'saidspindle, rollers IOO IIO

mounted in said cross-head, a casing in'closing said cross-head andpivoted to said crosshead near the center of the same, shoe ends securedto said casing to frictionally engage a guide, there being openings insaid casing through which said rollers may project into contact withsaid guide.

11. In acurtain-tixture, a spindle, a crosshead secured to said spindle,rollers mounted at the ends of said cross-head, a casing inclosing saidcross-head and pivotally secured to the center of said cross-,head andshoe ends secured to said casing beyond said rollers, the side membersof said casing and the shoe ends engaging a guide.

12. In a curtan-xture, a shoe-spindle, a crosshead secured to saidshoe-spindle carryingw rollers at tsouter ends, a casing inclosing saidcross-head and pivoted to said cross-head, shoe ends formed on saidcasing to. engage a guide beyond said rollers, there beingopenings insaid casing through which said rollers may project into contact withsaid guide.

13. In a curtain-fixture, a spindle, a crosshead secured to saidspindle, antifriction members mounted at the ends of said crosshead, acasing inclosing said cross-head and movably mounted on said cross-head,shoe ends secured to said casing to engage a guide beyond saidantit'riction members, there being openings in said casing through whichsaid antifriction members may project| into contact with said guide.

11b In a curtain-fixture, a cross-head, rollers mounted in saidcross-head, a casing inclosingsaid crosshead and pivotally connected tothe center of the same, shoe ends secured tovsaid casing to frictionallyengage a guide, there being openings in said casing through which saidrollers may project into contact with said guide.

l5. In a curtain-fixture, a cross-head, roll- `ers mounted at the endsof said cross-head, a

casing inclosing said cross-head, said crosshead being pivotally securedto the centerof the same and shoe ends secured to said casing beyondsaid rollers, the side members of said casing and the shoe ends engaginga guide.

16. In acurtain-fixture, a tube formed with an elongated tube-opening, arod having a handle permanently secured thereto to be inserted into saidtubethrough said tubeopen ing, a guiding member secured to said rod,means to press said rod outward and a guiding member mounted in theopposite end of said tube. i

17. In acurtain-ixture, a tube formed with a tube-slot and a tube-notchtherein near the center of said tube, a rod having a handle permanentlysecured to the same and having a shoulder formed on said handle, to beinserted into said tube through said slot, said shoulder entering saidtube through said notch and being guided within said tube inreciprocating longitudinally of the same, a guiding member secured tosaid rod, a guiding member connected with the opposite end of said tubeand means t0 force said rod outward. n f

18. In a curtain-xture, a curtain formed with a pocket extending acrossthe lower end of the same, there being an opening communicating withsaid pocket, a tube inserted in said 'pocket there being an elongatedtubeopening formed in said tube, a rod having a handle permanentlysecured to the same to be inserted into said tube through said openings,a guiding member secured to said rod, a guiding member connected withthe opposite end of said tube, and means to force said rod outward.

19. The process ot' assembling the parts of a curtain-fixture and ofconnecting the same to a curtain, which consists in inserting a tubehaving a tube-openinginto the pocket ofa curtain having an openingadapted to register therewith, in inserting intothe tube through theregistering openings rods having handles secured thereto, and inconnecting guiding members with said rods at the outer ends Vot saidtube.

20. The process of assembling the parts of a curtain-fixture and ofconnecting the same to a curtain, which consistsin inserting a tubehaving a tube-opening near the central part of the same into the pocketof a curtain hav-Y to, in securing an escutcheon-plate to said curtainand said tube by. a center block, and

vin connecting guiding members with said rods at the outer ends of saidtube.

21. The process of assembling the parts of a curtain-xturmwhich consistsin inserting rods having handles connected thereto into a curtain-tubehaving a tube-opening near the center of the same through said opening,and in connecting guiding members to said rods at the outer ends of saidtube.k

22. The process of assembling the parts of a curtain-fixture whichconsists in inserting a rod having a handle secured thereto into acurtaintube having a tube-opening near the center of the same throughsaid opening, .in connecting a guiding member to said rod at the outerend of said tube and in mounting a guiding member at the opposite end ofsaid tube.

HERBERT' E. KEELER. H ARRY L. DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

JEssIE B. KAY, `JOHN N. MOORE.

IOS

Aopenings rods having handles secured therel IIO

